Baltimore may have lost a little gem in 2019 with the closure of the famous fine dining destination, Mews - but the decision of its gifted Turkish chef, Ahmet Dede, to stay on and re-open another legendary dining spot, The Customs House, just up the road, has been compensation a-plenty.
Warmth and a relaxed atmosphere are the key aims in tyhe setting here, whether in the two-room restaurant or a sheltered al fresco eating area at the back, which is always in high demand.
Tasting menus are the style for dinner and weekend lunches, and they offer oodles of creativity. The focus is firmly on the local ingredients and producers that Ahmet Dede holds in such high regard - the freshly-caught fish, the just-harvested fruit and vegetables, and unique products such as Gloun Cross butter, smoked fish dip from Sally Barnes's Woodcock Smokery, Kimchi by the Cultured Food Company and many more - and then this exceptional chef adds delicious Middle Eastern themes and weaves his magic to create a memorable modern Turkish dining experience.
Whether in for a special lunch or a memorable evening meal, the common denominator is beautiful food made with sustainablly produced local ingredients - and served by Maria Archer and her team with a warmth and generosity reminiscent of the Turkish family dining experience that Ahmet Dede loves to re-create - West Cork style!
